VS.

Despite the lopsided score, Penn State didn’t as well on offense as I had hoped. They couldn’t get the running game started in first half and Anthony Morelli missed some receivers. The upside — strong play in the red zone.

On the second play of the game, Penn State ran a Derrick Williams reverse, something I had hoped they would avoid. He was stuffed by FIU, so hopefully the play will be removed. It hasn’t worked in Big11Ten play since the 2005 Ohio State game, so there is no point in using it against noncons either.

Sean Lee and Dan Connor are so good, assistant coach Ron Vanderlinden has really done a wonderful job building Linebacker U. up again. Lee was player of the week.

The defensive line was better than expected.

Austin Scott didn’t look good running the ball, despite 2 TDs. Both Rodney Kinlaw and Evan Royster were more impressive, though they did play later in the game when FIU was tired.

Mickey Shuler had a successful debut, catching four passes. His first reception went for a touchdown.

I’m glad the Blue Band stopped playing Livin’ on a Prayer. I was worried it was going to become a tradition.

The field looked great, but I still prefer the athletic script endzone design that was replaced by the block style.

FIU has pretty good looking uniforms. The “UCLA” stripes actually wrap around and the use of traditional numbers was unexpected from an upstart (well, not yet) Florida School. Two things that I didn’t like though — not a lot of gold for a team called the “Golden Panthers” and the “2″ style was different on the sleeves than on the front and back. Yes, I mentioned it to UniWatch.

FIU coach Mario Cristobal wore a neck tie. I wonder how many opposition coaches have worn ties because they were playing Penn State. Glenn Mason used to do that when he was at Minnesota.

Jeremy Boone had a good day punting.

Kevin Kelly went 1 for 2 on field goals. Something needs to be done.

I don’t think we learned anything about the Nittany Lions this weekend other than it will really suck when we lose to Michigan. Seeing the Wolverines choke on applesauce Appalachian State was wonderful though. Run Up the Score! has a compilation of videos about the upset.

I think Notre Dame getting killed by Georgia Tech makes me more nervous for next week.

Nats’ Robinson Bids a Fond Farewell – The PostWASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, the Nats ended their season much as they began it — losing to the Mets. They also lost the home opener to the Mets, with Ramon Oritz on the hill that time too. This time, he gave up six runs in 1 1/3 innings before giving way to the bullpen. The final was 6-2, Mets.

The game of course was secondary to the Frank Robinson sendoff. Charlie Slowes led a ceremony before the game honoring Robinson. A video montage showed some of his great moments as a player and as a manager. My favorite was the shot of him arguing with Mike Scoisa from last season. The p.a. also blasted “Simply the Best” which struck me as an odd choice because if he was the best, why wasn’t he retained? Robinson then spoke for about 10 minutes before everybody began hugging each other.

Following a Chad Cordero (second at-bat of the season, I think) strikeout to end the game, “Sweet Caroline” was blasted over the p.a. which struck me as odd. That song HAS to go next year.

Also:

Nats finished with a 71-91 record, one game better than Bawlmer.

Teddy was robbed!

During the post-game, Robinson and Mayor Anthony Williams in a show of lame duck solidarity.

I rode my bike to and from the game, something that I will do more regularly next season.

Fans Applaud Soriano, Who Then Thanks His Manager – The PostI would be shocked if Alfonso Soriano comes back next year. My read of Stan Kasten is that he has no interest in spending $10+ million on someone how did not elevate the team above last place.

Stanton Sets Up Nats’ Win – The PostLF Alfonso Soriano accounted for all three Nats runs with a 2 run homer and a single to knock in Mike Vento. ¡LIVAN! continued his resurgence, giving up two runs over seven innings. Mike Stanton pitched a pefect eight and Chad Cordero pitched an imperfect ninth for his eighth save.

Boxscore – ESPNReliever Eischen May Be Finished – The PostJoey Eiscehn and his sore shoulder will no longer hold the Nationals back. He was sent to the 60 day DL for a “thickness tear of one of the rotator cuff muscles in his left shoulder.” That could be the end of his career.

Most importantly though, Eischen pitched through pain, like a real man. Clearly, it worked out for both him and the team, are you paying attention John Patterson? Eischen’s injury opens the door for Bill Bray, who has been quite promising (4-1 with a five saves and a 3.98 ERA in 312/3 innings) in AAA.

Also, Jose Vidro is slumping, having seen his leading average fall like a rock off a highway overpass. He also sat out yesterday with a bad knee.

Fritz and I went to RFK last night for the Nationals vs. Baltimore game. The Nats lost, 9-6. P John Patterson did not look great for the Nats and the team committed two errors. It was not really great baseball, but fun nonetheless. Some observations:

I was delighted to see the pitcher-soon-to-be-known-as-the-former-Mr. Anna Benso on on the hill for Baltimore.

I was very dissapointed that nobody joined me in chants of “Ann-na, Ann-na, Ann-na” when Benson was on the mound.

The outfield did not look like it was in great shape.

¡Dutch! (now #11) did well with the bat (2 doubles), but made an error in the field.

Brandon Watson (still #00) had three straight singles and took a lot of pitches in a late inning strike out.

Kenny Kelly (now #44) crushed a pitch to straight-away center; about a 420 foot homer. I did not see that coming, how Preston Wison-esque.

There was not a lot of black and orange in the stands. Good.

Mayor Anthony Williams threw out the first pitch from a few feet in front of the mound. It was pretty good, much better than last year.

Somewhere in RFK you can buy nachos, but I could not for the life of me figure out where. I got a lot of exercise in my futile search for them. Anybody know where the nachos stands are located?

2B Jose Vidro played like the All-Star that he apparently was in Montréal.

I was sitting in 532, so I did not get to see how bad Alfonso Soriano was fielding. I may be on to something. He did get cheered loudly though when he came to bat.

It is hard to take baseball seriously when both teams are wearing colored uniforms.

THOMAS BOSWELL – Hit, or Miss – The PostBoz correctly notes that if the Nats are going to have any chance this season, they are going to have to hit. He thinks the lineup is better, but I remain unconvinced. They might want to field a lot better too.Guillen Wants to Finalize Contract Extension – The PostI cannot blame Jose Guillen for wanting to get a contract extension done before the season starts, he cannot count on anyone but Jim Bowden (file photo) to give him anywhere near what he wants. If I were the GM, I would probably wait until after the season and risk losing him.The Web site for The Wash. Times was down this morning, so no article from there today.

The long story-short is that a company called Bygone Sports (you may have seen their ads on washtimes.com) was formed in 2002 to trademark the name Washington Nationals. It is not a leap of logic to assume that they did this in anticipation of getting paid off by MLB in the event the name was ever used. MLB believed they had a verbal agreement to work it out, but apparently not, so Bygone sued and MLB countersued.

My prediction — an out of court settlement, terms not disclosed. Of course, knowing MLB, they might say “Forget about it and change the name to Senators”, which would make Mayor Anthony Williams (and plenty others) unhappy. Maybe they’ll take the District to arbitration too, since poisoning the well is what they excel at over all else.

Nationals make Sosa offer – Florida TodayWe barely had enough time to take in the (apparent) good news before Jim Bowden went off a did something stupid, like offering a guranteed contract to has-been Sammy Sosa. This makes little sense, since the team already has about 5 outfielders plus the forgotten Ryan Church, who last time I checked was reasonably priced. Plus, Sosa never played for Cincy, so why Bowden lusts after him is doublely odd.

Baseball keeps Washington guessing on stadium cap – AP/The PostMayor Anthony Williams is confident while MLB is not talking. I think they are going to take their time, but an announcement saying “this is wholly unacceptable” coming across the wires in about ten minutes would not surprise me either. This is far from over…

Williams Revises Stadium Cost Plan – The PostMayor Anthony Williams has delivered the paperwork detailing costcaps for construction as well as a promise of $70 million from the Anacotia Waterfront Commision. The council is going to have the lawfirm DLA Piper Rudnick Gray Cary of Chicago look over the documents this weekend. If they tell the council that the promises that the mayor made are supported by the paperwork, council chair Linda Cropp (D) is cautiously optmistic that the lease will pass.

You know the mayor’s stupid and this was an awful deal, it’s still awful and everybody’s bad, I don’t have any desire whatsoever to continue that game,” said Williams. “I think it’s now time to have a vote. I do not have any intention whatsoever this time of withdrawing the legislation. I think we just need to have a vote. And if you want baseball, this is what we have

Not something you want to hear from anybody in a leadership position. Marion Barry is going to eat this up with one of these.

Nationals spring schedule released – The Wash. TimesThe spring training schedule is now out and tickets are finally available. Who can’t wait to get to the white sand beachesexciting nightlife Panera of Viera?

Revised Stadium Decision Comes Down to the Wire – WTOPnews.comMayor Anthony Williams was on WTOP yesterday for “Ask the Mayor” and he said he is optimistic (what’s new) and we will know about the stadium plan today. That is of course assuming that the standard histrionics go away or it is concluded that the lease cannot get approved.The Last Handshake Deal – The PostOne of the landowners of the ballpark footprint is profiled.Guillen lifts kids’ spirits on Caravan – nationals.comWho is thinking of the childrens? Jose Guillen is thinking of the childrens.THOMAS BOSWELL – Baseball — or Is It Vaudeville? — Will Soon Regain Center Stage – The PostI think the sports editor told Tom Boswell he needed to write a baseball column and he had nothing to write about, so he devotes two paragraphs to Anna Benson and five to Theo Epstein. The local ball team gets six grafs, but two are only a sentence long. He thinks we will look back and think, “wow, the Nats did not have a lease at the start of spring training” and Alf is going to sign a $50 million contract extension. Whatever.Oh yeah, as part of the “winter caravan” some Nats are signing autographs in my neighborhood at the Champps in Pentagon Row tomorrow from 12:30 to 2 p.m. I’ll probably stop by, just look for the guy in the home jersey with the away cap and relief pitcher hair.

Nationals Maintain Their Interest in Free Agent Sosa – The PostFor some reason, Jim Bowden appears to still be interested in Sammy Sosa. At least Bowden is not offering a guaranteed contract…yet. I maintain my distaste for signing a washed up primadona with a trail of baggage stretching from here to Chicago.

Also, the Nats are looking at making former Expo/Yankee/Ranger John Wetteland the bullpen coach. RHP Felix Rodriguez and 1B Daryle Ward are being offered minor league deals to attend spring training.

Mayor optimistic about fixed lease – The Wash. TimesOh boy, Anthony Williams is optimistic, should we be optimistic too? Probably not, because the article does not present enough evidence to me that the mayor is not just believing in the way he wants things to be instead of the way things are in real life.

Oh and if/when this gets done, one bank (The Post) probably won’t be lending any money for the project.

There is more from The Wash. Examiner too — Mayor: Stadium deal progressing. Williams is suggesting this is ultimately up to Linda Cropp, the council chair. Some demands the council has made:

Nationals will be District-based for tax purposes – Reasonable, but I don’t know how MLB goes about that sort of thing.

Guaranteed construction costs to avoid “open checkbook problem” – Sounds nice, but does it work in the real world?

All development rights in the area outside the stadium will benefit the District – Who else would they benefit?

An initiative to rebuild youth baseball, requirement for 50 public appearances per season by the team, increased numbers of tickets available to underprivileged youth and a commitment to hire District residents – Again, reasonable.

If city misses March 1, 2008, deadline to open new facility, baseball will pay to play in RFK Stadium for 12 months. – No chance.